THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY HELM, DENLINGER, BAKER, BEAR, BELFANTI, BENNINGHOFF, BEYER, BOBACK, BRADFORD, BRENNAN, CLYMER, COHEN, D. COSTA, CREIGHTON, DAY, DERMODY, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, FLECK, GEIST, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GILLESPIE, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HENNESSEY, HESS, HICKERNELL, KILLION, KORTZ, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MARSICO, MELIO, MILLARD, MILLER, MURT, D. O'BRIEN, PALLONE, PARKER, PASHINSKI, PAYNE, PHILLIPS, PICKETT, QUINN, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROCK, ROHRER, ROSS, SIPTROTH, STEVENSON, SWANGER, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WATERS AND YOUNGBLOOD, AUGUST 24, 2009

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, AUGUST 24, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

Designating September 25, 2009, as "Ataxia Awareness Day" in

Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, An estimated 150,000 individuals are affected by

hereditary and sporadic ataxia in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Ataxia is an often fatal degenerative neurological

disorder that causes slow, progressive deterioration of nerve

cells in the spinal cord and cerebellum, affecting balance,

coordination and speech; and

WHEREAS, The initial symptoms of ataxia include clumsiness

and loss of coordination, but as the condition progresses,

ataxia may affect mobility and the ability to communicate and

lead to total physical dependency; and

WHEREAS, Ataxia can strike anyone at any time, without regard

to age, gender or race; and

WHEREAS, Although ataxia is uncommon, recent scientific

research suggests it is more prevalent than previously thought,

and it may often be misdiagnosed or unrecognized; and

WHEREAS, There is no known treatment or cure for ataxia,

leaving the only defense to be research and prevention through

education; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate

September 25, 2009, as "Ataxia Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania

and urge all citizens to honor and support those individuals

with ataxia and their caregivers, in the hope that a cure will

soon be found.